Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Baby #7 (shhhhhh! It's a boy!) is scheduled to arrive in less than 3 weeks! As with all of my other children, I'd like to mark his arrival with something unique and special. With each child, we've added on to the traditions that initiate a new member of our family, and I've run out of unique ideas (Give me a break! My brain has been doubly-fried by pregnancy AND bed rest!). I need your help!

As I just mentioned, we try to keep doing the already-established traditions, but add on a new one for each baby. So, here is the list:

Baby #1: We sang him "Happy Birthday" when he was born.

Baby #2: "Happy Birthday", plus we made sure to have a Baby Book ready and waiting to mark those first, few special days.

Baby #3: "Happy Birthday", Baby Book, and her brothers presented her with a special toy that they had shopped for and purchased just for her.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Not that I haven't been down this road a MILLION times before, but I had
to have the "talk" with my OB on Wed. Here's how it went (slightly
paraphrased, but not much cuz I'm still riled):

Dr: "I know I've asked you this before, but I just wanted to make sure.... you are NOT interested in a tubal ligation, right?" Me: "That's correct." Dr: "Is this because of a religious thing, or????" Me: "You could say it stems from that." Dr: "Because you can go to your priest or minister and tell them it's for medical reasons, and then we can do it."
Me: "If a Catholic priest is giving "permission" for things that the
Catholic CHurch teaches are ALWAYS morally wrong, then he's a liar and a
really bad Catholic, to boot. Priests are people, they are imperfect.
That's why I always verify my facts with the source I know to be
correct." Dr: "OK, it's just that this is sooooo dangerous." Me:"
Let me ask you this... Have I come across as uneducated, ignorant, or
fanatical in any way during this entire pregnancy? Have I not asked some
very educated questions and discussed things with you calmly and
rationally?" Dr: "Oh, yes! Yes! You're very competent!" Me: "Have I
also not made it clear that my husband and I totally understand the
risks involved and that WE stand the most to lose if something goes
wrong?" Dr: "Yes." Me: "And, knowing all of these things about me
and knowing that I know how frightening this can be, don't you think
that if I disagreed with Natural Law and the teachings of my faith OR if
I felt there was a loophole somewhere, I would be exploring it?
Wouldn't I be the FIRST to try that? It just so happens that I AGREE
with the reason for "why not". I understand that you are concerned for
my physical health, but I have to be worried about so much more than
just that." Dr: "OK, OK. It's just that, by law, I'm required to ask."
Me: "Really? By LAW? I've had other health care providers that never
asked, so either they were skirting the law or that's not really true." Dr: "Well, what I mean is that you'd have to make that decision NOW, legally, and not wait any longer."
Me: "Well, that's a completely different thing, isn't it? And, I think I
was pretty clear back in September when I said that it was something I
would never, under ANY circumstances consider. There are very few things
in life that I can say are 100% no-going-back-on decisions, but this is
one of them. Sorry that the law made us waste your time like this." (I
did say this with a wink and a grin, but still...).

This is a conversation that I've had in several other pregnancies with various providers (OBs and NPs). To me, it represents how stereotyping happens even in the most professional of circles (maybe ESPECIALLY there) and how even when you present yourself as lucid, well-informed, easy-to-dialogue-with, and reasonable, people STILL cannot use one iota of their imagination to try and understand what you are saying.

You NEED to read Pope Awesome!!

I always shop online through Ebates & get cash back every quarter!!

About Me

I am the proud Catholic mother of 7 beautiful children on earth and 3 little saints in Heaven. Their ages range from 3 to 20 years.
My husband and I have been happily married for 21 glorious years.
On a good day, I can hear myself think.
On a bad day, the whole neighborhood can hear me think.